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Last of Jubilee medals awarded

Wednesday, 20 February 2013 - 2:25pm

Staff

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty presented the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal to three Fort Frances residents at a ceremony Saturday morning at the Volunteer Bureau here, marking the final presentation to be made locally.
June Keddie, Henry Miller, and Randy Thoms received the commemorative medal created to mark the 2012 celebrations of the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the throne as Queen of Canada.

“The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal is a tangible way for Canada to honour Her Majesty for her service to this country,” Rafferty said.
“At the same time, it serves to honour significant contributions and achievements by Canadians.”
He noted the three recipients are “unsung heroes” in the community who have volunteered, worked hard, and have not received much recognition for their efforts.
“It’s an important medal, an important award, and an important recognition,” he stressed.
Rafferty indicated Keddie has volunteered in the hospital’s “Day Hospital Program” for more than 20 years and has pledged to make a difference to those facing chemotherapy treatment as a compassionate volunteer with the Canadian Cancer Society.
“She embodies every aspect of the Society’s mission and has touched the lives of so many,” he remarked, adding Keddie was honoured as Citizen of the Year for Fort Frances in 2006.
He noted Thoms received his medal for a career in broadcasting, which began in 1983.
“His career has involved logging hundreds of kilometres weekly to communities between Marathon and Kenora,” Rafferty said, adding Thoms also has dedicated hundreds of volunteer hours to the Canadian Cancer Society, Alzheimer’s Society, and Fun in the Sun.
Similarly, Rafferty said Miller has dedicated hundreds of hours to a variety of environmental and conservation pursuits since his retirement as a public school teacher.
“This has included a feeding program to deer during winter months when food was scarce, as well as bird-feeder projects,” he cited.
He added Miller also is an active member of the Fort Frances Sportsmen’s Club, where he has lent a hand to numerous projects.
Meanwhile, though not one handed out by Rafferty, Lt(N) Terry Newman also received a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in a surprise ceremony at the Emo Legion on Saturday afternoon.
He was nominated for his dedication and commitment to the Canadian Forces and 144 Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Fort Frances.
Having been with the corps since 1994, he first became the commanding officer in 1998 and served three years in that appointment.
Then in 2002, he was appointed commanding officer again and his served in that position since.
“He has done numerous activities with the unit and is a valuable asset,” said Lt(N) Dawn Gray, executive officer of 144 RCSCC Fort Frances.
LCdr Les Newman, CD, HMCS Griffon’s Standards Officer in Thunder Bay, presented the medal.